Circle Forum

Circle Forum

By Stan BakerEducation
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Circle Forum episodes

  • Changing lenses to see students with special needs

    Changing the lens of how we see students with special needs can lead to different responses to the behaviours. Students on the autism spectrum benefit from the predictability and consistency of the restorative questions. We are often called on as adults to translate and simplify the questions for students. Varying these same questions can help adults in difficult conversations about how adult behaviour is triggering students.

    Restorative practices suggestions:

    1. Restorative questions are effective with students who have special needs.
    2. “Seek first to understand then to be understood.” (Stephen Covey)
    3. Modify the basic restorative questions in order to promote understanding to and from students on the autism spectrum.

      4. See www.circleforum.ca for live online restorative practices awareness sessions.

      Visit www.restorative.ca for more information about the HOWTO of asking questions.

      Order Steve’s book The Restorative Principal Leading in Education with Restorative Practices

      Music by ZakharValaha from Pixabay

      18 min
    4. Ending the school year well with restorative leadership

      The end of the school year is filled with the stresses of wrapping up the year and gearing up for September. Restorative leadership can address staff concerns like next year’s teaching assignment, room assignments and class lists. Stan shares an example where a conversation did not go so well. Join us this week as Shelley, Steve and Stan talk about building relationships by walking around.

      Restorative practice suggestions:

      1. Building positive supportive relationships with the adults in the school benefits students too.
      2. Ask open-ended questions like “what’s happening for you?” In stressful times at school.
      3. Make the check-ins short and simple.
      4. Build relationships with staff and students during breaks by walking around and being present.

        5. See www.circleforum.ca for live online restorative practices awareness sessions.

        Visit www.restorative.ca for more information about the HOWTO of check in questions.

        Order Steve’s book The Restorative Principal Leading in Education with Restorative Practices

        Music by ZakharValaha from Pixabay

        20 min
      5. Start classroom circles when needed and keep at it

        Integrating restorative practices into the curriculum can actually save time with stories from the recent experiences of Brooke Monks, a grade 6 teacher with the York Region District School Board in Ontario. She just started with circles in April of this school year and already she’s noticed that students were able to present projects in classroom circles. Prior to this, there was a lot of anxiety about standing up in front of class.

        Restorative practice suggestions:

        1. Get a restorative coach or someone who can model circles with you in class.
        2. Get the restorative questions and resources from www.restorative.ca
        3. Take the next step and try circles in your classroom.

          4. See www.circleforum.ca for live online trainings in using circles.

          Visit www.restorative.ca for more information about the HOWTO of using talking pieces.

          Order Steve’s book The Restorative Principal Leading in Education with Restorative Practices

          Music by ZakharValaha from Pixabay

          12 min
        4. Circles give voice to silent students

          Quiet students need to have talking space according to our guest this week, Brooke Monks, a grade 6 teacher with the York Region District School Board in Ontario. She speaks from the experiences of her students when they answered her question about how they felt when someone talks over them. It’s the second of 3 parts of our conversation with Brooke.

          Restorative practice suggestions:

          1. restorative practice helps with classroom management with techniques using talking pieces.
          2. Start restorative circles at any time of the school year.
          3. Start small steps with circles in September every Monday morning and every Friday afternoon for starters.

            4. See www.circleforum.ca for live online trainings in using circles.

            Visit www.restorative.ca for more information about the HOWTO of using circles.

            Order Steve’s book The Restorative Principal Leading in Education with Restorative Practices

            Music by ZakharValaha from Pixabay

            16 min
          4. Teacher starts with circles in April: Learnings and challenges

            Every teacher needs to try restorative practices in class according to our guest this week, Brooke Monks, a grade 6 teacher with the York Region District School Board in Ontario. Brooke had Steve as someone who could model circles in the classroom and coach her. Brooke reflects this week on starting with restorative circles late in the school year this April. It’s doable and she has some great insights into how to get started.

            Restorative practice suggestions:

            1. Get a coach or someone to model circles in the classroom.
            2. Try out restorative practices
            3. Be explicit and teach the language and procedures of circles to students and adults.

              4. See www.circleforum.ca for live online trainings in using circles.

              Visit www.restorative.ca for more information about the HOWTO of using talking pieces.

              Order Steve’s book The Restorative Principal Leading in Education with Restorative Practices

              Music by ZakharValaha from Pixabay

              15 min
            4. School structures inhibit community involvement in restorative circles

              Community involvement and participation in restorative circles can positively impact all people involved according to Belinda Dulin in her chapter “Restorative Practices in Community” in the book  Colorizing Restorative Justice: Voicing our Realities. Shelley, Steve and Stan discuss a terrific story about 2 families at risk of eviction due to conflict who resolve the issues with the involvement of a community member. Schools have set up many structural barriers to community members getting involved in restorative circles.

              Restorative practice suggestions:

              1. Seek to break down the barriers and structures in schools which prevent community involvement in restorative circles.
              2. Challenge the idea that “we can’t do that here” with restorative alternatives.
              3. Educate the community about restorative practices.
              4. Be invitational in order to reduce individual isolation and to reduce the isolation of schools from their communities.

                5. Colorizing Restorative Justice: Voicing our Realities

                Visit www.restorative.ca for more information about the HOWTO of using talking pieces.

                See www.circleforum.ca for live online trainings in using circles.

                Order Steve’s book The Restorative Principal Leading in Education with Restorative Practices

                Music by ZakharValaha from Pixabay

                18 min
              5. “The land on which you stand rightfully belongs to (INSERT NAME OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES)”

                Intentional use of a talking piece in restorative circles can begin to undo what Edward Valandra calls “the First Harm” in his chapter “Undoing the First Harm: Settlers in Restorative Justice” in the book  Colorizing Restorative Justice: Voicing our Realities. Land acknowledgments are good and require a next step of action to undo the harm. Valandra asks what’s blocking settlers from recognizing how the harm is perpetuated. It’s a powerful chapter which goes to the heart of repairing harm in our practice restorative justice or restorative practices.

                Restorative practices suggestion:

                1. Use a talking piece with a handful of earth and the inscription “The land on which you stand rightfully belongs to (INSERT NAME OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES).”

                  2. Colorizing Restorative Justice: Voicing our Realities

                  Visit www.restorative.ca for more information about the HOWTO of using talking pieces.

                  See www.circleforum.ca for live online trainings in using circles.

                  Order Steve’s book The Restorative Principal Leading in Education with Restorative Practices

                  Music by ZakharValaha from Pixabay

                  18 min
                2. Black and brown boys describe adults in school as not caring about them

                  Student voices from black and brown boys describe adults as not caring and having the attitude that “you’re not worth it!” This is the powerful and helpful language from Abdul-Malik Muhammad in his chapter contribution “The Cipher, Circle and Restorative Practices with Black and Brown Boys” in the book  Colorizing Restorative Justice: Voicing our Realities. Shelley, Steve and Stan talk about the Social Discipline Window as seen through the experiences of black and brown boys in schools. It’s a powerful chapter which highlights the passive violence of NOT caring (neglectful box), the trauma inducing control of the TO box (authoritarian) and how educators cripple motivation and drive in students by doing things FOR students(permissive). A restorative approach WITH students is intentional in teaching the language of affect and emotion while recognizing that behaviours are a form of expression.

                  Restorative practices suggestions:

                  1. Revisit the Social Discipline Window in order to reflect on your practice.
                  2. Student connections or the lack of connections can be clarified using the Social Discipline Window.
                  3. Look at the experiences and voices of black and brown boys through the Social Discipline Window.

                    4. Social Discipline Window as pdf

                    Social Discipline Window explained (5 min video)

                    Colorizing Restorative Justice: Voicing our Realities

                    Visit www.CircleForum.ca for more information about the HOWTO of facilitating circle conversations.

                    Download the free practical tools and restorative resources for teachers on www.restorative.ca

                    Order Steve’s book The Restorative Principal Leading in Education with Restorative Practices

                    Music by ZakharValaha from Pixabay

                    19 min
                  4. "Passing the cup of vulnerability challenges white fragility in circle"

                    Privileged folks can be activated through the telling of stories and the listening to stories according to Gilbert Salazar in his chapter contribution “Passing the cup of vulnerability: offering vulnerability as a challenge to white fragility through elements of circle” in the book  Colorizing Restorative Justice: Voicing our Realities. Shelley, Steve and Stan discuss how skillful questioning, intentional listening within the structure of a circle can activate privileged folks. Salazar tells some terrific stories including one in which participants went from joking around to meaningful participation through the use of Salazar’s Golden Question.

                    Restorative practice suggestions:

                    1. Be aware of emotional detractors that can promote white fragility.
                    2. Facilitator preparation for difficult conversations in circles is essential.
                    3. Circles can be places to demonstrate the power of story.

                      4. Colorizing Restorative Justice: Voicing our Realities

                      Visit CircleForum for more information about the HOWTO of facilitating circle conversations.

                      Download the free practical tools and restorative resources for teachers on restorative.ca

                      Order Steve’s book The Restorative Principal Leading in Education with Restorative Practices

                      Music by ZakharValaha from Pixabay

                      18 min
                    4. Oppression and restorative practice, are we hiding the ball?

                      “Hiding the ball” is the way restorative approaches are introduced in schools, according to Anita Wadhwa, contributor to the book Colorizing Restorative Justice: Voicing our Realities. In her chapter “‘What do you want, reparations? Racial microaggressions and restorative justice” , she describes oppression as “behaviours, practices, laws, beliefs, systems that privilege some groups and demean and subjugate others physically, mentally, materially or otherwise.” Introducing restorative practices in schools is often promoted as a way to reduce suspensions (which it does) and improve school climate (which it also does). Wadhwa challenges readers to generate dialogue about the structures that support racism and white privilege.

                      Restorative practice suggestions:

                      1. Be open to correction in conversations about oppression.
                      2. Receive correction as a gift.
                      3. Listen closely to the stories you hear in a circle.
                      4. Restore yourself as a practitioner through regular reflection on your practice.

                        5. Colorizing Restorative Justice: Voicing our Realities

                        Visit CircleForum for more information about the HOWTO of entering into challenging dialogues.

                        Download the free practical tools and restorative resources for teachers on restorative.ca

                        Order Steve’s book The Restorative Principal Leading in Education with Restorative Practices

                        Music by ZakharValaha from Pixabay

                        16 min

                      About Circle Forum

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                      Leading a school in today’s educational landscape is both rewarding and complex. This podcast equips elementary and secondary school principals with proven strategies to tackle challenges they face…